In 1835, with Belgium developing its own identity and homegrown scientific institutions, Jean Linden (1817–98), still a student, found himself in charge of the country's first botanical expedition to Brazil. For some ten years he scoured the unexplored regions of Latin America, refining his understanding of orchids and developing a passion for the species. On his return he began a thriving business in exotic plants and soon became a key figure in Belgian science, commerce, and politics. Mining numerous archives and the explorer's own accounts, Nicole Ceulemans takes a critical and searching look at Linden (her great-great-grandfather), illuminated with 50 black and white and 200 color images, including sumptuous botanical art from specialized publications of the era.